Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1887-05-26
MICHIGAN EReIsLATURE.

BILLS making an appropriation of $4,000 for
the purchase OF additional land for the Michigan
Insane Asylum and making an appropriation
of xl0I, ,0O) for the current expenses OF the state
Reform School for 1857, passed the Senate on
the 18th inst. The reduction OF railroad pas
senger rates was the special order In tho House.
Although no final action was taken, incidental
votes showed disposition not to make q large
cut in rates. The Manley BILL reducing fares TO
2 cents In tho lower peninsula, was practically
defeated by the adoption OF the w. A. Bates
substitute, This allows fare OF two and half
cents mile In the Lower Peninsula and three
cents In the Upper Peninsula Roads operating
less than twenty miles are exempted. All roads
must sell 50J-mile tickets for not more than SO.
This substitute adopted by a vote OF Al to
33. The Cross graveyard insurance Dill came
up by special order, and the whole afternoon
session was occupied in tho discussion. Tho in
iquities OF this system OF insurance were pretty
thoroughly shown up. Pending vote upon 10,
the committee rose and asked leave to sit
again.
The age OF consent bill, fixing the age at IA
years, passed the Senate ON the 17th, without
discussion and was sent to the Governor for his
signature. The Senate also passed the follow
ing House bills: To authorize the village OF st.
Johns. Clinton County. TO borrow money for the
construction OF water works; to change the
fiscal year from September to June 80; to
in the town of Republic, Marquette
County; to amend the charter OF
Detroit City relative TO street grading; TO rnise
the age Of protection for females TO ii years TO
authorize the trustees OF religious societies TO
receive money by gift and bequest; also the
Senate bills Incorporating the Village OF IRON
wool, Gogebic County; to reincorporate the
village Of Fremont, Newaygo County; to amend
the act Incorporating the village OF Three
Rivers, St. Joseph County; to amend the
laws relative to tho fees Of appraisers
and commissioners upon estates of deceased
persons and others OF local importance
granting $1,000 to Alphonzo Button, who was so
sadly injured several years ago by cannon ex-
plosion at Mason on Fourth OF July celebra-
tion when II member OF State milit Try COM
Iln n ant ffNn nm anH
bills to regulate the appointment and qualihca-
tion Of notarles public the Senate bill ceding
to the United States exclusive Jurisdiction over
land to be occupied by the Lake Superior
Ship Canal Railway and Iron Company,
and the Portage Lake and River I'm
provement Company; the bills TO regulate
proceedings In law against corporate bodies to
prevent judges of probate from acting as trus-
tees OF insane asylums; to regulate tho PRO-
posed crossing OF one railroad by another. The
Hosford resolution for investigating the cleo
tion frauds In Wayne County was disposed OF
by the adoption OF substitute, referring the
whole matter to the joint Committees on the
Judiciary. resolution was adopted TO pay the
counsel for defendant I'm the Dakin impeach-
ment trial $50 each I'm full compensation The
Sa was IN @
the whole
THE Cross bill to regulate cooperative insur-
ance companies passed the Senate on the 18th,
by vote Of so to H. This is quite a victory for
Mr.. Cross and friends of the measure, for the
somewhat personal. This, however, was TO be
expected from the nature Of the business an
tagonized by the bill and the character OF
the people engaged In IT. The House killed
the bill to abolish the Board OF Corrections and
Charities The question was much discussed,
and it was charged that the Board was no real
Deneht to the state that 1t did no imI ortant
work, and neglected the duties imposed by law
on IL. Several members denied these state
ments, and numerous alleged atrocities which
have been unearthed by tho Board OF Correc-
nd rif off nv ntatf Va
Chapman in opposition to the bill to abolish
the Board. In one case in Ionia County, 1t
was charged. girl Of IA years was found
confined in shocking condition. She
was locked in pen and had nothing on the
windows were barred, but this did not prevent
passers-by from looking I'm at the poor creature.
When the board discovered her she was en-
tirely naked and there was no furniture OF any
kind In the room; she was kicking plaster of
the wall and had apparently been working on
the lath. Her brother was found imprisoned in
| tight board fence in the back yard. He had on
a shirt and pants, but had no protec-
Gn the s%n which hS ss had 81 9S
| keeper Of the Poorhouse said the child had been
| In tho pen since morning. short time after
| ward, when the board made another visit to the
| place, the girl had been given dress, but was
| left loose and unguarded in the back yard In
! another case the poor authorities Of Menominee
| County had confined nine women and three
| mon for three weeks together in the same room.
| They were subjected to the barbarous treat
ment of being brought and made TO dance be-
n
band to accompany the antics Of the miserable
| creatures.
A BILL, which had previously gone through
| the House, was unanimously passed by
the Senate on the 10th, providing that all per
sons handling butterine for sale shall keep q
sign conspicuously posted bearing thereon in
! large black letters not less than three inches
In ienoth the legend. aOleomargarine So1d
| Here" or @Butterine Sold Here, as the case
may be, and further that in every place where
| either OF these articles is used be IL hotel
restaurant, boarding house, or home, sign OF
the same character shall be kept hanging Over
| the entrance to the dining room, and on il shall
PpHAi sRp be nO suSsttSted % % for soid ON the Ssn
! Penalties provided for violations OF the
law, and It is made a misdemeanor to sell but
| terine, oieomargarine, or similar compounds az
butter and subjects the offender to fine Of
| from 800 to $500, or imprisonment from six
months to to three years % in the State House Q, q
Sso ESssod Tie the shg Senate sppoi S
TO stenographers Of Circuit Courts
and regulates their compensation. The
| bill gives the appointment OF stenographer tC
the Judge OF the circuit, the salary to be fixed
by the Judge limited to not less than 81 ,0c0 noi
more than 81 800. The amount is ratod upon
the business OF the court, but the Board OF
Supervisors OF Wayne County Auditors are
| privileged TO add as much rs they choose tc
the regular salary. An allowance Of eight
cents per folio is the legal rate for transcribng
1t makes the stenographer public official
| similar to the county clerk and ST. nographArs
! are hereafter to be furnished to appH
cants at the legal rate for transcribing
| Tho Joint Committee on Banks made an ex
h lustive report favoring the creation OF q State
department. OF banking, with commissioner
to be appointed by the Governor, together with
| force OF expert examiners. The report states
tLat the present savings-bank system Is moi
safe for the mass Of depOstors. as 1t does not
provide for the full publication OF tho bank
| condition. Senator Momoes bill revising the
| banking laws and creating a State depart
| ment was recomm ended for pa sage. The House
| spent nearly the entire dav in considera
| tion OF the Manly two-ccnt fare bill, and finally
passed IL by vote of 65 to 10. The bill provided
| that all roads in the Lower Peninsula excep
roads recently built or less than twenty miei
i'm length shall be allowed to charge two centi
| per mile for each mile and a fraction thereo
and no more; that railroads in the Uppe
| Peninsula will be allowed TO charge three cent
mile only. The Legislature appears TO b
| getting after the railroads, ovon though the
| have their passes still The Rogers bill, apply
| ing provisi ms nearly similar To the interstat
| commerce bill to railroads wholly in the State
also passed the House.